The Differential Effect of Carbon Dots on Gene Expression and DNA Methylation of Human Embryonic Lung Fibroblasts as a Function of Surface Charge and Dose

0532291 - ÚEM 2021 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Šíma, Michal - Vrbová, Kristýna - Závodná, Táňa - Hoňková, Kateřina - Chvojková, Irena - Ambrož, Antonín - Kléma, J. - Rössnerová, Andrea - Poláková, K. - Malina, T. - Belza, J. - Topinka, Jan - Rössner ml., Pavel
The Differential Effect of Carbon Dots on Gene Expression and DNA Methylation of Human Embryonic Lung Fibroblasts as a Function of Surface Charge and Dose.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Roč. 21, č. 13 (2020), č. článku 4763. E-ISSN 1422-0067
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LO1508; GA MŠMT(CZ) LM2015073
Institutional support: RVO:68378041
Keywords : carbon dots * surface charge * human lung fibroblasts
OECD category: Genetics and heredity (medical genetics to be 3)
Impact factor: 5.924, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/13/4763

This study presents a toxicological evaluation of two types of carbon dots (CD), similar in size (<10 nm) but differing in surface charge. Whole-genome mRNA and miRNA expression (RNAseq), as well as gene-specific DNA methylation changes, were analyzed in human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HEL 12469) after 4 h and 24 h exposure to concentrations of 10 and 50 mu g/mL (for positive charged CD, pCD) or 10 and 100 mu g/mL (for negative charged CD, nCD). The results showed a distinct response for the tested nanomaterials (NMs). The exposure to pCD induced the expression of a substantially lower number of mRNAs than those to nCD, with few commonly differentially expressed genes between the two CDs. For both CDs, the number of deregulated mRNAs increased with the dose and exposure time. The pathway analysis revealed a deregulation of processes associated with immune response, tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation, after exposure to pCD. For nCD treatment, pathways relating to cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, gene expression, and cycle regulation were detected. The expression of miRNAs followed a similar pattern: more pronounced changes after nCD exposure and few commonly differentially expressed miRNAs between the two CDs. For both CDs the pathway analysis based on miRNA-mRNA interactions, showed a deregulation of cancer-related pathways, immune processes and processes involved in extracellular matrix interactions. DNA methylation was not affected by exposure to any of the two CDs. In summary, although the tested CDs induced distinct responses on the level of mRNA and miRNA expression, pathway analyses revealed a potential common biological impact of both NMs independent of their surface charge.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0310823